Reversing valve



Get. 17, 1950 w', PQTTMEYER 2,525,826

REVERSING VALVE Filed Jan. 19, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N A INVENTOR Edwa'r-c/ W. Pottmeyer BY m mzm ATTORNEYS Oct. 17, 1950 E. w. PQTTMEYER 2,525,826

REVERSING VAL E Filed Jan. 19, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 g \W/(MW Cu INVENTOR Edward W. Pofl'meyer ATTORNEY 5 Patented Oct. 17, 1950 REVERSING VALVE Edward W. Pottmeyer, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Blaw-Knex Company, Pittsburgh, Pa, a corporation of New Jersey Application .Iianuary 19, 1946, Serial No. 642,270

Claims. (Cl. 25l.18)

This invention relates generally to a valve for gas ducts and, in particular, to a reversing valve for controlling the admission of air to one end of a reversing furnace and the outflow of combustion gases from the other end.

Reversing valves as heretofore constructed have been massive and costly, generally having several large moving parts, In several known types, furthermore, the construction of the valve is such that the gases flowing through are compelled to make a 180 reversal in direction. This involves a substantial pressure drop which is seriously objectionable because of the large volume of waste gases to be handled for even a moderate sized furnace.

I have invented a novel reversing valve for alternately connecting opposite ends of a reversing to the stack duct forming with the panel a closed housing for the valve. A concave valve closure of double-walled construct on for water cooling is hung on a shaft within the hood for swinging movement from a position overlying one port to a position overlying the other. An air inlet port is formed in the panel and the closure overlies it in all positions. Connections for supplying cooling water to the closure extend t rough a part moving with it and accessible on the exterior of the hood, i I

Further novel.features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and exp anation which refer to the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment. In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a plan view partly in horizontalsection showing the seat and hood of the valve but not the closure.

Figure 2 is a central vertical section through the valve.

Figures 3 and 4 are transverse sections taken along the planes of lines III-III and IV--IV, respectively, of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a section similar to Figure 2 showing a portion of the latter to enlarged scale.

Figure 6 is a partial section taken along the plane of line VI-VI of Figure 5 showing the valve closure in elevation; I

Figures 7 and 8 are partial sections taken alon 2 the planes of lines VII--VII and VIII-VI1I of Figure 5.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, a reversing valve according to my invention comprises a seat IB having ports II and I2 therein positioned side by side. The seat I0 is a metal panel or plate having cooling pipes I3 embedded therein and extending around the ports. The panel is inclined at an angleto the vertical Gas ducts I4 and I5 connect with the ports II and I2. These ducts extend to the outlets of the regenerators serving opposite ends of a reversing furnace such as a conventional open-hearth furnace. A duct I6 on the opposite side of the valve from the ducts I4 and I5 leads to a stack for the discharge of waste combustion gases. A hood I! including a top l8, side walls I9, and front wall 20, extends from the panel or valve seat It to the end of the duct I6.

An air inlet port 2| is formed in the panel I0 above the ports II and I2 and is disposed centrally there-between. A series of dampers 22 controls the flow of air through the port. A hub 23 is disposed centrally of the port, being carried on radial arms 24 secured to the panel. A shaft 25 is seated in the hub 23 and provides a pivotal mounting for a valve closure 26,

The closure 26 is a concave double walled structure dimensioned to overlie the port 2| and one of the ports II and I2. The edge of the closure has sliding engagement with the panel Ill. It is provided with a socket 21 secured to a web plate 28 and gussets 29.which is adapted to engage the shaft 25. The interior of the socket 21 which engages the shaftis rounded convexly as at 30 to permit slight rocking movement of the closure on theshaft in order to effect tight-sealing engagement of the edge of the closure with the panel Ill. This feature is more fully d sc osed and claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 524,895, filed March 3, 194mm Valve for Gas Ducts, now Patent No. 2,467,945.

If the closure is inposition to overlie the port I I, it will be apparentthat air entering the port 21 will flow through the. space defined by the closure and the panel ID through the port II and into the duct I4. At the same time the port I2 is open for outflow of combustion gases from the duct I5 tothe duct I6. By shifting the closure to its other position, i. e., overlying ports I2 and 2|, reverse flow of air and waste combustion gases is permitted. Swinging movement of the closure from one position to the other is effected by a fluid motor 3I trunnoned in any suitable support adjacent the panel I 0. The piston rod flowing combustion gases.

of the motor is pivoted at 32 to a block 33 extending from the closure 26 through the panel It. The panel has an arcuate slot 3a to accommodate block 33. The closure 26 includes a yoke 35 overlying the slot 34 throughout its entire length in all positions of the closure. The block 33 has passages 36 formed therein from which flexible connections S'l extend for the circulation of cooling water through the interior of the closure 26. The panel ill includes a central removable portion 38 at the top thereof to admit the block 33 when the closure is lowered on to the panel after removal of the top !3 of the hood H. To facilitate installation, the closure is provided with a lifting lug 39. When the closure has been hung on the shaft 25, the removable portion 38 is set in place and may be welded or otherwise attached to the remainder of the panel.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that my invention provides a reserving valve which is simple and relatively inexpensive in construction and is capable of reversing the flow of gases through a furnace eifectively and without introducing a pronounced pressure drop in the out- The entire valve is self-contained in a single housing, is composed of but very few parts and requires a minimum of space beyond the limits of the gas ducts themselves. Although there is only one moving part, nevertheless it permits substantially straight flow of the waste combustion gases from the regenerator ducts to the stack duct. A further advantage is the full-fioating mounting of the closure insuring tight sealing engagement of the closure with the seat by virtue of the weight of the closure itself. The valve closure, furthermore, is actuated by power means and is thus adapted to automatic or remote control.

Although I have illustrated and described but one preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be recognized that changes in the construction disclosed may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the V appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a reversing valve for a reversing furnace or the like, in combination, a one-way discharge duct for waste gases, a pair of reverse flow gas ducts connected to said discharge duct, the adjoining ends of said discharge duct and said reverse fiow ducts respectively and substantially defining a reversing valve chamber, a generally planar valve seat substantially forming one side of said chamber and'positioned at an angle to the respective axes of said ducts, said valve seat having at least three ports therethrough in isosceles triangular arrangement, the vertex port thereof being an inlet port directed into said chamber from outside of said ducts, the base ports of said iso celes triangular arrangement substantially defining the respective ends of said reverse flow ducts, a generally bowl-shaped valve closure swingably supported about an axis adjacent the axis of the vertex port and equidistant from the respective axes of said base ports, said valve closure having the concavity thereof facing said valve seat and overlying said vertex port, said valve closure being adapted to selectively conduct process gas entering said inlet port and valve chamber alternately into one or the other of said base ports, and means for swinging said valve closure about said supporting axis and parallel to said valve seat to cau e said valve closure to overlie alternate ones of said base ports, whereby said process gas enters the reverse flow duct overlain by said valve closure while waste gases are discharged by the other of said reverse flow ducts not so overlain and pass substantially directly through said valve chamber and into said discharge duct without objectionable pressure drop.

2. In a reversing valve for a reversing furnace or the like, in combination, a one-way discharge duct for waste gases, a pair of reverse flow gas ducts connected to said discharge duct, the adjoining ends of said discharge duct and said reverse flow ducts respectively defining a reversing valve chamber, the end of said discharge duct being on an opposite side of said valve chamber to the ends of said reverse flow ducts and in general alignment therewith, a generally planar valve seat substantially forming one side of said chamber and inclined upwardly toward said reverse flow ducts, said valve seat having three ports therethrough in isosceles triangular arrangement, the vertex port thereof being an inlet port for combustion supporting gas to be directed through said valve chamber from outside of said ducts, the base ports of said isosceles triangular arrangement substantially defining the respective ends of said reverse flow ducts, a stud shaft mounted on said valve seat generally coaxial with the axis of said vertex port and projecting into said valve chamber, a generally bowl-shaped valve closure pivotally hung on said stud shaft and adapted to be rocked on said valve seat, said valve closure overlying said inlet port and adapted to selectively and alternately overlie one or the other of said base ports, and means for rocking said valve closure about said stud shaft, whereby said combustion supporting gas enters the reverse flow duct overlain by said valve closure while waste gases are discharged by the other of said reverse flow ducts not so overlain and pass substantially directly through said valve chamber and into said discharge duct without objectionable pressure drop.

3. In a reversing valve for a reversing furnace or the like, in combination, a one-way discharge duct for waste gases, a pair of reverse flow gas ducts connected to said discharge duct, the adjoining ends of said discharge duct and said re verse flow ducts respectively defining a reversing valve chamber, the end of said discharge duct being on an opposite side of said valve chamber to the ends of said reverse flow ducts and in general alignment therewith, a generally planar valve seat substantially forming one side of said chamber and inclined upwardly toward said reverse flow ducts, said valve seat having threc ports therethrough in isosceles triangular ar rangement, the vertex port thereof being an inlet port for combustion supporting gas to be directed through said valve chamber from outside of said ducts, the base ports of said isosceles triangular arrangement substantially defining the respective ends of said reverse flow ducts, a stud shaft mounted on said valve seat generally coaxial with the axis of said Vertex port and projecting into said valve chamber, a generally double-walled bowl-shaped valve closure pivotally hung on said stud shaft and adapted to be rocked on said valve seat, said valve closure overlying said inlet port and adapted to selectively and alternatel overlie one or the other of said base ports, means for rocking said valve closure about said stud shaft, and means for circulating a cooling fluid between the double walls of said valve closure, whereby said combustion supporting gas enters the reverse flow duct overlain by said valve closure while waste gases are discharged by the other of said reverse flow ducts not so overlain and pass substantially directly through said valve chamber and into said discharge duct without objectionable pressure drop.

4. In a reversing valve for a reversing furnace or the like having a one-way discharge duct for waste gases and a pair of reverse flow gas ducts connected thereto and in general alignment therewith, all of said ducts being relatively permanent in construction and having the adjoining ends thereof and a hood defining a closed valve chamber, in combination, an inclined valve seat ported for at least one of said ducts and substantially forming one side of said valve chamber, said valve seat extending beyond all of said ducts, a double-walled valve closure swingably mounted on said valve seat within said valve chamber, said valve seat having an arcuate slot therethrough the axis of which coincides with the axis about which said valve closure is swingably mounted, a block adapted to slide in said arcuate slot, said block being connected to said valve closure, said block further carrying passages in communication with the space between the walls of said valve closure, a yoke overlying said arcuate slot in all positions of said block and adapted to be moved upon movement of said block, means to swing said valve closure on said valve seat, and means for circulating cooling fluid through said passages 39 to cool said valve closure.

5. In a reversing valve for a reversing furnace or the like having a one-way discharge duct for waste gases and a pair of reverse flow gas ducts connected thereto and in general alignment therewith, all of said ducts being relatively permanent in construction and having the adjoining ends thereof and a hood defining a closed valve chamber, in combination, a planar valve seat ported for said reverse flow ducts and substantially forming one side of said valve chamber, said valve seat extending beyond said reverse flow ducts and inclined upwardly theretoward, an inlet port through said valve seat outside said ducts and equidistant from the ports of said reverse flow ducts, a concave double-walled valve clo sure swingably mounted on said valve seat and generally about the axis of said inlet port, said valve closure being adapted to overlie said inlet port in all positions and alternate ones of the ports of said reverse flow ducts, said valve seat having an arcuate slot therethrough described about the axis of said inlet port, a block adapted to slide in said arcuate slot and connected to said valve closure, said block further having passages therethrough in communication with the space between the walls of said valve closure, a yoke overlying said arcuate slot in all positions of said block and adapted to be moved upon movement of said block, means connected to said block outside of said ducts and valve chamber to swing said valve closure on said valve seat, and means outside of said ducts and valve chamber fo circulating cooling fluid through the passages in said block to cool said valve closure.

EDWARD W. POTTMEYER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 464,195 Forter Dec. 1, 1891 786,603 Schenck Apr. 4, 1905 1,825,815 Nye Oct. 6, 1931 1,849,242 Moll Mar. 15, 1932 1,891,781 Willie Feb. 14, 1933 2,048,696 Hellan July 28, 1936 2,149,980 Paret Mar. 7, 1939 2,437,144; Wolf Mar. 2, 1948 2,467,945 Pottmeyer Apr. 19, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 121,245 Great Britain Dec. 12, 1918 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,525,826 October 17, 1950 EDWARD W. POTTMEYER It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

E Column 2, line 22, for the hyphenated word there-between firead therebetween; column 3, line 20, for reserving read reversing;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, so thait the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 26th day of December, A. D. 1950.

[sun] THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents. 

